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It seems fitting that “Smallville: The Complete Eighth Season” (Warner, 2008-09, $79.98) is among the better offerings during a week when the number of new Blu-ray titles are ... well ... small.
But don’t worry, high-definition Blu-ray enthusiasts. Things are about to get much, much better as fall nears with the holiday season not far behind.
“Smallville” began in the fall of 2001 as a series about Clark Kent’s teenage years. As most everyone knows, baby Clark came to Earth in a rocket ship from the doomed planet Krypton. He was found and raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent (John Schneider and Annette O’Toole) and eventually attended Smallville High Shool.
Plenty has happened since that first season. Clark’s high school days are far behind him. He has had his Fortress of Solitude, has entered the Phantom Zone and commuted with the spirit of his dead father Jor-El. Meanwhile, long-time friend Lex Luthor has finally started down the path of big-time crime.
In the finale of season seven, the Fortress collapsed and Kent and Luthor were missing. Such DC heroes as The Green Arrow, Black Canary and Aquaman join forces to search for Kent in the first episode of season eight. This is also the season when Clark Kent begins working fulltime at The Daily Planet newspaper. Tom Welling stars as Kent.
It all looks great on Blu-ray. The set includes 22 episodes. The ninth season of “Smallville” is scheduled to begin Sept. 25 on The CW. Recommended.
Other Blu-ray releases:
“Fighting” (Universal, 2009, $39.98): This is an OK tale about the world of bare-knuckle street fighting. Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) is a small-town kid who is given a chance by hustler Harvey Borden (Terrence Howard) to make it in the fighting game in New York City. Shawn aims to climb all the way to the top but finds several obstacles in his path.
“Duplicity” (Universal, 2009, $39.98): This is one of those movies you feel the need to watch again to figure out what’s going on, but even then you might not quite get it. Adding to the confusion is that the story jumps back and forth in time. It’s all about corporate spying. Julia Roberts works for Tim Wilkinson’s company and Clive Owen works for Pail Giamatti’s company, or is it the other round? Roberts and Owens fall for each other, or do they? Are the affairs all part of the spy game, too? Does anybody really care?
“Adventureland” (Walt Disney, 2009, $44.99): A nice little comedy set in the summer of 1987. James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg) plans to spend the warm months in New York City, but when his dad loses his job, James has to go work to make money for grad school. He finds a job at a second-rate Pittsburgh amusement park. It’s not exactly fun until he meets Em (Kristen Stewart) and the summer begins to look better.
“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (Paramount, 2003, $29.99): Kate Hudson plays magazine columnist Andie Anderson, who plans to write a first-person account of what to do to drive a man out of your life. Her challenge is Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey), who has made a bet that he can make any woman fall madly in love with him.
“Children of the Corn” (Anchor Bay, 1984, $29.97): In this Stephen King chiller, Peter Horton and Linda Hamilton play a couple who are driving cross country until they are sidetracked in Nebraska. There, they encounter a group of terrifying youngsters who murder adults and worship “something” in a cornfield. R. G. Armstrong also is in the cast.
“Lie to Me: Season One” (20th Century Fox, 2009, $59.99): Tom Roth plays Dr. Carl Lightman, who can figure out if people are telling the truth by observing their body language and facial expressions. He uses his talent to help solve criminal cases. Kelli Williams plays his partner, Dr. Gillian Foster. The set includes all 13 first season episodes.
